The carriage passed through the liveliest and most prosperous districts, arriving at a relatively smooth street with fewer people.
Suddenly, the sky above turned dark, and a killing intent surged like a tide.
Bloodthirsty, cruel.
Only then did Hua Lige's cold voice ring out, "Protect the Empress."
"Yes," a powerful voice echoed through the sky. The crowd on the street scattered in all directions, people covering their heads and fleeing. In the blink of an eye, it became silent.
Hua Lige led more than ten guards, dispersing and surrounding the Empress's carriage. The sound of horse hooves pounded powerfully, kicking up dust and earth on the street.
These assassins, dressed in black clothing and pants, had their faces covered with black cloth, revealing only their eyes. Those eyes flickered with a fierce killing intent, shimmering with a green light, clearly having transformed into bloodthirsty beasts.
Their forms dispersed, drifting in all directions, on the blue eaves of houses, on tall trees, everywhere, like black birds.
These were suicide warriors.
They were to return without shedding blood, only to serve unto death, thus their combat power was several times that of ordinary people.
"Kill," one person commanded. Others moved as fast as lightning, descending swiftly, directly attacking the magnificent carriage.
Hua Lige, with a somber face, waved his hand, "Attack," and led the charge.
For a time, the street was filled with shouts and the clash of weapons. Amidst the flickering light and shadows, some were already injured, the smell of blood permeating the air. This killing intent stimulated Mu Qingyao, and she could no longer maintain her calm. She spoke in a deep voice, "Mochou."
As Mu Qingyao spoke, two agile figures shot out. In the middle of the street, those in black seemed to carry the aura of death, fighting with a reckless abandon.
Furthermore, everyone possessed extraordinary skills, attacking vital points directly. The guards were clearly at a disadvantage, with several injured in the blink of an eye. Upon seeing Mu Qingyao's figure, a large portion of the suicide warriors surrounded Hua Lige and his group, while a few others lunged towards Mu Qingyao.
Mochou moved, her soft sword in hand, launching a fierce assault.
The black-clad man in front of her dodged with a flash of his body, while two or three other black-clad figures closed in.
Mu Qingyao and Mochou stood back-to-back, both calm and collected. The three black-clad figures attacked simultaneously, and Mu Qingyao and Mochou put forth their full effort. For a time, those attackers could not do anything to them.
However, they also could not break free.
Just then, the sound of horse hooves suddenly rang out, and in a blink, dozens of figures appeared before them. The person leading them was the charming Bing Xiao. Seeing the three black-clad figures surrounding the Empress, she let out a delicate cry and calmly commanded, "Attack."
She leaped into the air, leading two or three subordinates directly towards Mu Qingyao. Her long sword danced, whipping up the black-clad man closest to Mu Qingyao and throwing him into the air.
By the time that person fell, she was already in front of him. With a flash of cold light, a thud was heard. Her sharp short sword pierced directly through the man's vital organs. Before he could even grunt, he died. Blood sprayed from his chest, splashing everywhere.
Bing Xiao and her group joined the fight, and the momentum clearly shifted. As Bing Xiao approached Mu Qingyao, she spoke respectfully, "Is the Empress alright?"
Mu Qingyao shook her head. Her deep, serene eyes were stained red with blood. The killing intent in her heart was amplified infinitely. A cold aura enveloped her as she commanded in a deep voice, "Kill, leave none alive."
The chilling voice echoed in the air, reaching the heavens.
Bing Xiao and Hua Lige received the order steadily, "Yes, Your Highness."
The two groups merged, and the aura of the black-clad attackers quickly weakened, leaving them with only the defensive. However, these were suicide warriors, driven by a resolve to die, so the two sides could not achieve victory for a time, locked in a fierce battle.
Mu Qingyao's expression was as cold as the winter ice, her pupils covered by a layer of blood-red, demonic glow. She stood directly beneath the carriage, as if a mountain standing between heaven and earth. The eunuch driving the carriage trembled uncontrollably.
Black-clad assassins fell one after another. Mochou breathed a sigh of relief, thinking the Empress would be safe.
Just then, a eunuch who had been cowering at the back suddenly leaped up, sword in hand, and struck directly at Mu Qingyao. The sword carried a powerful, biting wind, moving with lightning speed, like a flash of lightning or a fleeting glimpse.
Mochou gasped in alarm. She flicked her soft sword to meet the attack, but she did not expect the eunuch's internal energy to be so profound and his protective aura so formidable. The aura repelled Mochou's sword, sending her flying several meters away.
In the critical moment, the eunuch's sword struck again.
Mu Qingyao moved, shifting slightly, but the long sword did not falter. Its tip curved, rebounding and striking towards her again.
In a flash, the little eunuch who had been trembling suddenly rushed out, throwing himself at the person attacking Mu Qingyao, and shouted loudly, "Your Highness, hurry and leave!"
Upon hearing the voice, Mu Qingyao realized it was Chunhan, who she had ordered fifty planks and banished from the Fengluan Palace that day. Why was he here?
Chunhan embraced the assassin. The assassin, not wanting to be foiled, raised his sword and stabbed directly, piercing his heart. Blood splattered. Mu Qingyao's eyes were filled only with the vibrant red blood; nothing else mattered. Instead of retreating, she advanced. Chunhan struggled to speak, "Your Highness, I'm sorry, I didn't want to betray you, but my sister Xiao Rou is in their hands. Please take care of her, will you?"
"Yes, I promise you," Mu Qingyao's eyes ached terribly.
So Chunhan's actions that day had a hidden reason. She no longer blamed him.
"Your Highness... I'm sorry... the person who tried to assassinate you is Qin Hao," Chunhan said, gasping for breath. He couldn't catch his breath and struggled to inhale, desperately swallowing. Mu Qingyao shook him, "Chunhan, Chunhan."
"Yue... Jue... Si..." Chunhan uttered these three words and could no longer make any sound. He died. Mu Qingyao's white skirt was stained with blood everywhere. She stood up coldly, looking at the last few people still fighting in the field.
As if driven mad, she leaped into the air, her palm flipping as she struck directly at Qin Hao. This scoundrel had not only defiled Chunxiang but now killed Chunhan. Although she knew she might not be able to defeat him, she still wanted to fight to the death.
The guards dealt with the remaining black-clad individuals, while Hua Lige and Bing Xiao dared not let the Empress suffer any harm, so the three of them attacked Qin Hao simultaneously.